TDF Launches TKTS iPhone App & Patron Services Program

With the hustle and bustle of Times Square more robust than ever, TDF is launching two new services to make the TKTS ticket buying experience easier than ever for the hundreds of thousands of theatre lovers who visit TDF's three TKTS Discount Booths for same-day tickets to Broadway and Off Broadway productions - The Official TKTS iPhone app which lets TKTS customers know, in real-time, what shows are available at all three TKTS Discount Booths and TKTS Patron Services Program at TKTS Times Square, which helps theatregoers navigate the ins and outs of the TKTS Booth experience.

TKTS' Patron Services team is now in place and the Official TKTS iPhone app is currently available free of charge when it is downloaded by March 1, 2011.

About the new services:

1. TKTS iPHONE APP:
The Official TKTS iPhone app, which will is available for download free of charge on iTunes through March 1, 2011, is the only way to get accurate, real-time listings of all Broadway and Off Broadway shows available at the world famous TKTS Discount Ticket Booths in New York City. The TKTS iPhone app is connected to the same software that runs the TKTS electronic boards, so patrons see exactly what is being shown on the boards.

The Official TKTS iPhone app features:
- a real-time display of what is currently on sale at all three TKTS Discount booths.
- a comprehensive show search where you'll find what is happening onstage in New York City - including show descriptions, performance schedules, theatre locations, accessibility information and links to official show Web sites for Broadway, Off Broadway, off-Off Broadway, dance and music productions.
- TDF Stages - TDF's online theatre magazine featuring articles, videos and podcasts.

TKTS offers same-day tickets to Broadway and Off Broadway shows at discounts of up to 50% off full-price. The TKTS Discount Booths have become an international destination for theatre lovers from the United States and around the world since 1973. There are three locations in New York City:

(1) Times Square - Broadway and 47th Street, Manhattan - "under the red steps";
(2) South Street Seaport - in the Seaport Marketplace at the corner of Front and John Streets, Manhattan; and,
(3) Downtown Brooklyn - in 1 MetroTech Center, at the corner of Jay Street and Myrtle Avenue Promenade, Brooklyn.

You may download the Official TKTS iPhone app free of charge through March 1, 2011 at the iTunes app store or at www.tdf.org/tktsapp

An android version of the Official TKTS app will be forthcoming.

2. TKTS PATRON SERVICES PROGRAM:
TKTS Patron Services Representatives, sporting snappy red jackets, are now on-site in the hectic environment at Duffy Square to help TKTS Times Square patrons navigate the ticket buying process, assist in educating them on the content of the shows available, guide the line of more than half "first-time theatregoers," from the United States and around the world to purchasing their first Broadway tickets, and enhance their experience as a TKTS customer.

TKTS Patron Services Representatives are non-biased, highly trained theatre enthusiasts with a passion for customer service. They are educated about the Broadway and Off Broadway season and show business news, and are valued sources of information about the Times Square area. Several team members are bi-lingual, members of the theatre industry and possess degrees in related fields. In essence, they are sophisticated "walking theatre concierges." They wear specially designed red shirts and jackets that say "Got Questions?" on the back. They are also equipped with iPads to share extended show information and the official TKTS app.

TKTS GIFT CERTIFICATES AND TDF GIFT MEMBERSHIPS
Additionally, for the holiday season, if you want to give the gift of theatre to people in your life, TDF has two great ways to do just that economically! TKTS Gift Certificates and TDF Gift Memberships.

For the budget-minded holiday gift-giver who wants to give theatre and dance to their friends and loved ones, Theatre Development Fund (TDF), the not-for-profit performing arts service organization, offers two economical ways to keep theatre and dance affordable in everyone's lives this holiday season and beyond with TKTS GIFT CERTIFICATES and TDF GIFT MEMBERSHIPS.

1. TKTS GIFT CERTIFICATES: What better way to share live performance than TKTS Gift Certificates? TDF has taken the worry about theatre gifts ("have they seen it? will they like it? what if they can't go to the performance I bought? I can't afford over $250 for a pair of tickets as gifts!"). With TKTS Gift Certificates THEY decide WHAT they want to see...and WHEN they want to see it by going to any of the three TKTS Discount Booths and choosing from the dozens of Broadway, Off Broadway, and dance productions on sale at TKTS each day! (On any given day an average of 50 productions are on sale at TKTS at discounts of up to 50% off full price.)

TKTS GIFT CERTIFICATES are available for every budget as they come in denominations $100, $50 and $25 and are accepted at all three Theatre Development Fund's TKTS Discount Booths.

TKTS GIFT CERTIFICATES may be purchased three ways:
(1) online at tdf's Web site - www.tdf.org (all major credit cards);
(2) by phone by calling 212.912.9770 ext. 374 (all major credit cards); or
(3) at any of the three TKTS Discount Booths during normal booth hours of operation (cash or traveller's checks).

2. TDF GIFT MEMBERSHIPS: With the gift of TDF MEMBERSHIP to theatre lovers in your life who are eligible* to join TDF, they will be seeing shows all year at affordable prices of up to 70% off full price. You pay only $30 to give them their first year's membership. Then, as TDF members, they will enjoy access to hundreds of Broadway, Off Broadway, music and dance productions throughout the year for only $20 to $37 a ticket. Additionally, TDF members can purchase tickets to off-Off Broadway productions for only $9 through TDF's unique "Off-Off @ $9" program.

To purchase a TDF GIFT MEMBERSHIP go to: www.tdf.org/giftmembership and provide the theatre fans in your life with access to hundreds of theatre, dance and music performances for an entire year.

*To be eligible for TDF Gift Membership, the person you are "gifting" MUST belong to one of the following groups: full-time students, full-time teachers, union members, retirees, civil service employees, staff members of not-for-profit organizations, performing arts professionals, members of the armed forces or clergy.

TKTS is a project of Theatre Development Fund (TDF), a not-for-profit service organization for the performing arts. TDF has three TKTS Discount Booths: the new Times Square TKTS Booth "under the red glass steps" in the Duffy Square; the Lower Manhattan TKTS Booth at South Street Seaport at the corner of Front and John Streets and the Downtown Brooklyn TKTS Booth in 1 MetroTech Center at Jay Street and Myrtle Avenue Promenade. Since TKTS first opened for business over 37 years ago on June 25, 1973, over 54 million tickets have been sold at discount prices to millions of New Yorkers and visitors who may not have been able to attend live performances without TKTS. Those admissions represent over $1.6 billion in revenue returned to thousands of productions.

Theatre Development Fund (TDF) has played a unique role in strengthening live theatre and dance in New York City for the past 42 years. This not-for-profit service organization's programs have provided over 79 million people access to the theatre at discount prices (with theatre lovers who would normally not be able to attend live performance) and returned nearly 2 billion dollars in revenue to thousands of theatre, dance and music productions. Best known for its TKTS Discount Booths, TDF's membership, voucher, access and education programs, as well as its Costume Collection, help to make the unique experience of theatre available to everyone. Recently, TDF published its first book, Outrageous Fortune: The Life and Times of the New American Play. To learn more about TDF, go to: www.tdf.org.